Barnkonventionen - Från teori till praktik En kvalitativ studie om socionomers tolkningar och utmaningar vid tillämpningen av artikel 3 och 12

Abstract

t is widely known that Sweden incorporated the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in 2020, but not many are particularly familiar with its theoretical and practical challenges. Although the Convention emphasizes the rights of the child according to Article 3 on the best interests of the child and 12 on participation, which are the theme of this study, several actors highlight its lack of application in the public sector. The main challenges are based on the fact that the articles lack a legal definition and are vaguely formulated, which allows for a variety of different interpretations and approaches. This study aims to explore how social workers interpret articles 3 and 12 and to understand their experienced practical and theoretical challenges in connection with its application in child protection cases. To achieve the purpose of the study, semi-structured interviews have been carried out with six social workers. Interviews were analysed using a thematic method based on Virginia Braun and Victoria Clarke's six-step model supported by two theoretical concepts: street level bureaucrats’ discretion and the perspectives of children as beings and becomings. The main findings reveal that resource constraints within the social services significantly limit social workers scope of action, resulting in a high workload, stress, time pressure and exhaustion. Limitations which also directly affect the realization of children’s human rights. The study discovered a multifaceted interpretation of what the best interests of the child and participation mean as well as a variety of practical challenges. These include reluctant parents, children's loyalty to their parents, young children or functional variations among children, lack of professional training, and a perceptible gap between theory and practice.